Ice crushing device



' May 28, 1968 M. mm 3,385,530

ICE CRUSHING DEVICE Filed Jan 21, 1966 hm. I. 1 1

INVENTOR. MAX IRVIN A TTORJVE Y5.

May 28, 1968 M. IRVIN 3,385,530

ICE CRUSHING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F ]G 5 INVENTOR.

MAX IR V/IV United States Patent 3,385,530 ICE CRUSHING DEVICE Max Irvin, 138-33 Coolidge Ave., Jamaica, NY. 11435 Filed Jan. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 522,115 2 Claims. (Cl. 241-469) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ice crushing device whose working members are coupled by a releasable hinge formed from the pivotal registry of a series of arcuate knuckle extensions of one member with a like number of recesses in the opposite member via pairs of opposed coaxial pintle studs depending into the recesses and upstanding walls on the concave surfaces of the knuckles which are adapted to lie between and perpendicularly intersect the axes of the pairs of studs.

This invention relates generally to improvements in ice crushing devices and, more particularly, to devices operable with one hand to crush ice cubes into pieces of a size convenient for use in serving iced drinks, fruit, etc.

Typical ice crushing devices are provided with a pair of members hinged together at one end so that they may be spread apart to receive the ice cube and then forced toward each other for the crushing effect.

It is highly desirable to make such devices with a releasable hinge structure so that the members can be uncoupled by the user. Uncoupling permits easier and more effective cleaning after use. In addition, devices of this releasable type may be cheaply mass produced as compared with devices of a unitary type that cannot be uncoupled.

However, in the present practice the more desired type of ice crusher, i.e. the releasable or uncoupling type has not been generally satisfactory in use. Its use results in a high incidence of breakage of the hinge structure. One or the other of the hinge parts tends to fracture under the force generated by the crushing of large and/or hard ice cubes.

Making the components of the hinge structure of heavier materials increases the strength of the device but the hinge becomes more diflicult to couple or assemble in the hands of the average user. When faced with this difficulty, the average user tends to misalign the parts. Use of such a misaligned device leads to :a concentration of the crusing forces on only one or two points of the hinge with resultant fracture. Thus, breakage of the hinge parts may occur even though they are constructed of stronger materials. Further, the use of heavier materials increases the cost of the device.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an inexpensively manufactured ice crushin device of the uncoupling type that can be readily assembled by the average user for use without risk of misalignment and readily disassembled for cleaning after use, and which should not fracture or break when used to crush unusually large and/or hard ice cubes even though it be made of a relatively lightweight material.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an ice crushing device of the kind characterized which is light and durable, easy to operate with one hand and which is also simple in construction.

These and other objects, features and advantages are accomplished, according to the invention, by the arrangements and combinations of elements hereinafter fully described and particularly recited in the claims, and will become more apparent therefrom.

Briefly and generally, the invention comprises a new and improved pair of crushing members each having a handle portion at one end and being pivotally coupled at their other ends by a releasable hinge structure. One of the crushing members, preferably the lower, is provided at its forward or distal end with a number of generally upstanding or projecting supports arranged in spaced relation one to the other to define a plurality of knuckle-receiving recesses therebetween. Each of said recesses has a pair of opposed coaxially aligned pivot studs depending inwardly from the sides of the projecting supports.

The other of the crushing members is provided, similarly at its distal end, with a like plurality of projecting knuckles spaced for insertion in said recesses and adapted to releasably engage said studs. Each of the knuckles has a hook-like or arcuate configuration so as to underlie and partially encircle a pair of said studs for pivotal movement on the studs and for easy disengagement from the studs. The lateral dimensions of each knuckle are slightly smaller than the correspondin recess dimensions to further facilitate such disengagement and also to permit ready reengagement.

More preferably, each knuckle has a centrally positioned upstanding wall on its concave surface which is oriented so that, when the knuckles are inserted in the recesses, each wall will be positioned between a pair of studs to automatically guide and register the parts. The knuckles can thus be inserted into the recesses by the average user without risk of misalignment assuring that the forces generated during the crushing operation will be distributed evenly throughout the hinge structure.

Having briefly described the invention, a more detailed description is made by reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part of the specification herein and in which is shown, for purposes of illustration, a typical embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of the assembled device according to the invention, the two crushing members being shown in the open position for receiving an ice cube therebetween;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the lower crushing member of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the upper crushing member of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 5 is a view identical to that of FIGURE 4 but with the device in the fully closed position.

Turning now in detail to the accompanying drawing wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts in the several figures, the ice crushing device comprises, generally speaking, a pair of similarly dimensioned crushing members 10 and 20. Member 10, receives and holds the ice cube in place during the crushing operation. As such, it is positioned below member 20 and will hereinafter be referred to as the lower member with member 20 being hereinafter referred to as the upper member.

Lower member 10 is provided with a forward jaw portion 11 having a rearwardly depending handle 12. The body of jaw 11 is formed with a pair of identical side walls 13 and 14, a rear end Wall 15, a forward or distal end wall 16 and a bottom wall 17 to define a generally cubically shaped ice holding chamber therewithin which is open at the top.

Upper member 20 is similarly provided with a forward jaw portion 21 and a rearward handle portion 22. Jaw body 21 is generally rectangular in shape and is formed with a pair of identical side walls 23 and 24, a rear end wall 25, a top wall 26 and is open at its bottom and at its forward or distal end.

Side Walls 13 and 14 of lower jaw 11 gradually increase in height from shorter rear end 'wall 15 to taller distal end wall 16. Conversely, and for cooperation therewith, side walls 23 and 24 of upper jaw 21 gradually decrease in height from rear end wall 25 forwardly so that both members and of the device may 'be fully closed in operation as in FIGURE 5 to form an enclosed chamber of generally uniform depth.

Within this chamber, the jaw portions 11 and 21 are provided with internal ice breaking and crushing means. Such means may be of the conventional type. For example, as illustrated, bottom jaw portion 11 has a plurality of upstanding ridges 18 which are integrally formed with bottom wall 17 and end walls 15 and 16 (FIGURES 2, 3, 4 and 5). Top jaw 21 has two rows of substantially blunt ended downwardly depending spaced teeth 27 and 28, the rows being arranged in staggered relation. Rear teeth 27 are integrally formed with rear end wall and top wall 26. Forward teeth 28 are integrally formed with top wall 26 and are integrally connected by a series of strengthening ribs 29A and 293 to knuckles 35, the latter being described below.

In order that sufficient leverage can be obtained so as to crush an ice cube which has been inserted in the chamber of jaw portion 11, handles 12 and 22 are substantially elongated and are also generally convexo-concave in crosssectional configuration for increased rigidity. Handles 12 and 22 are disposed with their convex surfaces 12A and 22A respectively, facing outwardly to form comfortable gripping surfaces for the users hand.

Crushing members 10 and 2d are releasably coupled by a hinge 30. In accordance with the invention, distal end wall 16 of jaw 11 is integrally formed with a pair of generally upstanding forwardly projecting side supports 31 and 32 and a centrally positioned upstanding support 33, which supports are spaced one from the other beyond the top edge of distal end wall 16 to define a pair of knuckle receiving recesses therebetwcen. Depending towards the centers of the recesses from the inner lateral surfaces of the side supports 31 and 32 and from both lateral surfaces of the central support 33 are two pairs of opposed coaxially aligned pivot studs 34. It has been found that these pairs of opposed studs are not subject to the bending and breaking risks ordinarily attendant upon use of the conventional rod-like pintles.

Two forwardly depending hook-like or arcuate hinge knuckles are integrally formed with top wall 25 of upper jaw portion 21 for cooperation with the supports of lower jaw portion 11. Knuckles 35 are oriented with respect to upper jaw 21 with their convex surfaces 35A disposed downwardly (see FIGURES l, 4 and 5) so as to underlie and partially encircle the pairs of opposed studs 34 when the knuckles 35 are inserted in the recesses between the supports 31, 32 and 33.

The free or depending ends 353 of the knuckles are spaced from the secured ends 35C thereof a distance greater than the diameters of studs 34 and, in general, the lateral dimensions of the knuckles 35 are slightly smaller than the recesses between the supports so that the knuckles can be readily engaged with the studs 34 and also easily disengaged therefrom while a close fit is maintained in the hinge structure.

Upstanding walls 36 are integrally formed with the concave surfaces of knuckles 35 and are positioned midway between the lateral or side edges of the knuckles so as to lie between the pairs of opposed studs 34 transversely of their axes. Such walls 36 automatically register the knuckles in the recesses between the supports to assure a uniform distribution of forces in the hinge structure during the crushing operation. In addition, walls 36 tend to strengthen the knuckles considerably beyond normal strength requirements for hinges of this type.

The procedure for disassembly or uncoupling the members 10, 2t: is relatively simple. The upper member is pivoted away from the lower member until the distal end of jaw 21 is free to move rcarwardly past side hinge supports 31 and 32. When this position is reached, knuckles 35 are disengaged from studs 34, the latter passing through the spaces between the depending ends 35B of knuckles 35 and their secured ends 35C. The knuckles are then completely removed from the hinge support recesses by permitting the upper member to move away from its counterpart. The jaws can then be cleaned and the device reassembled or left apart as desired.

Assembly or coupling of the device involves a procedure generally converse so that for disassembly. With a jaw handle in each hand the user locates the members 1-1, 2t) with their jaws facing each other in approximately the open position and urges the knuckles 35 into the recesses between the supports 31, 32 and 33. If, during this insertion movement, some of the studs 34 strike the walls 35, the latter will act as cam surfaces to guide the knuckles 35 into a registered position perfectly mating with the supports 31, 32 and 33. The upper member is pivoted downwardly towards the lower member whereupon studs 34 pass between the depending and secured ends of knuckles 35 to pivotally engage the arcuate surfaces of the knuckles placing the device in readiness for use. Because the parts are in perfect registry, any forces exerted on the structure are evenly distributed on all of the supports, studs and knuckles throughout the hinge.

In operation after it has been assembled by coupling members 10 and 20 together, the device is held so that member 10 is positioned directly below member 20 with the open top of its cube holding chamber facing upwardly. Member 10 is then pivoted upwardly away from member 20 so that jaws 11 and 21 are separated placing the device in the open position (FIGURES l and 4). The user next places the ice cube which is to be crushed into the chamber of jaw 11. If the user prefers, he may uncouple the two members prior to inserting the ice cube.

fter insertion of the cube, the members are reassembled for performance of the crushing operation. Handles 12 and 22 are then gripped by the user with one hand and squeezed together. The ice crushing means provided in jaws 11 and 21, e.g. ridges 18 and teeth 27, 28, cooperate to fragmentize the cube reducing it to the desired crushed state. Because of the leverage of the handles, powerful forces are exerted on the hinge structure during this crushing operation. However, the forces are evenly distributed among all of the studs 34, the knuckles 35 and the supports 31, 32 and 33. Because of the even distribution of forces, hard or large cubes can be crushed whhout fracture of the hinge parts.

Thereafter, upper member 2%) may be uncoupled from bottom member 10 and the latter inverted to dump the crushed ice into the intended receptacle for use, or the upper member may be pivoted away from the lower memher and the device held in the open position while the lower member is dumped.

As will be understood, the number of supports and knuckles may be varied correspondingly without departing from the principles of the invention. Similarly, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific elements, steps, methods, compositions, combinations and arrangements shown and described, but departure may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice crushing device suitable for one-handed operation comprising a pair of ice crushing members,

one of said ice crushing members having at its distal end a series of upstanding supports spaced one from the other to define a plurality of knuckle receiving recesses thercbetween,

each of said recesses having a pair of coaxially aligned opposed pintlc studs depending inwardly from the sides of the supports formin the recess,

the other of said ice crushing members having at its distal end a like plurality of projecting knuckles for insertion within said recesses,

each of said knuckles having an arcuate surface disposed to underlie and partially encircle its associated pair of studs when inserted within its cooperating recess to form a hinge with said supports and studs for pivotal movement of said members to crush ice therebetween,

the depending end of each of said knuckles being spaced from the secured end thereof a distance greater than the diameters of said studs so that said knuckles can be disengaged from said pairs of studs and supports and removed from said recesses for selective coupling and uncoupling of said members, said knuckles each being formed with an upstanding wall on its concave surface extending in a plane perpendicularly intersecting the pivot axis of said hinge and being positioned to lie between opposing studs of each pair of studs when said knuckles are inserted in said recesses to thereby assure and facilitate proper registry of said knuckles and studs during assembly of said hinge.

2. A disengageable ice crushing device is described in claim 1, wherein one of said members includes a forward jaw portion defining a cube holding chamber open at the top having ice crushing means therein, the other of said members including a similarly positioned jaw portion having ice crushing means cooperable with said ice crushing means of said cube holding chamber, said members further including a pair of elongated handles rearwardly depending from said jaw portions so that when both handles are gripped and squeezed together, said jaw portions are caused to move towards one another and said crushing means cooperate to crush any ice cube lying therebetween within said cube holding chamber.

References ited UNITED STATES PATENTS 504,403 9/1893 Pomeroy 16189 1,994,004 3/1935 ONeil 241-169 2,644,192 7/1953 McClellan 16-172 3,195,920 7/1965 Knisely et a1. 16172 XR WILLIAM W. DY ER, IR., Primary Examiner.

W. D. BRAY, Assistant Examiner. 

